Method for altering a graphite golf club shaft

ABSTRACT

A method for altering a graphite golf club shaft having a hollow interior with an interior wall surface, a butt end, and a flex zone sixteen inches from the butt end with a range one inch up and one inch down from the measured sixteen inch point which includes placing a section of steel tubing into the hollow interior shaft and against the interior wall surface in the flex zone.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] Applicants are claiming the benefit of the prior filed Provisional Application No. 60/297,191 filed Jun. 8, 2001.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] This invention involves the modification of a graphite shaft.

[0004] 2. Description of the Problem and Related Art

[0005] There is a problem with golfers using graphite golf shafts, which is the inability to deliver a square club face to the ball consistently due to the inconsistency of the flex characteristics of the graphite golf shaft. Also, the same manufacturing process can be used to produce an identical shaft but can result in inconsistent flex characteristics. This is due to the nature of using graphite to make golf shafts. A golfer will use two supposedly identical golf clubs with supposedly identical graphite shafts and not be able to deliver a square club face to the ball with both shafts using an identical swing. The shafts of the two clubs will not have a consistent flex characteristic or, stated another way, the two shafts will not have the same flex characteristics. Flex is the amount of bending or torsion of the shaft during the golf swing. The problem is when graphite shafts are made by the same process they will have different flex characteristics. We have no knowledge of any attempted solution to this problem by anyone. Our invention is directed to solving this problem by altering a golf club shaft in order to meet a graphite shaft consistency standard.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The flex zone is where the action is in the golf shaft during the golf swing. The dependability and uniform flex properties of a graphite shaft in the golf industry is inconsistent and by inserting a section of steel tubing into a graphite shaft flex zone the properties become predictable. The flex zone is strengthened by the section of steel tubing and the amount of flex strengthening by the steel tubing insert is directly related to the diameter and length of the steel tubing. The longer the steel tubing, the higher the flex (stiffer). By placing a section of steel tubing in the flex zone of a graphite shaft, the manufacturer or club maker can alter the flex characteristics of the graphite shaft.

[0007] The use of a fitted section of graphite or metal into the hollow interior and against the interior wall surface of the golf shaft at the flex zone changes the flexibility of the shaft. A two to four inch insert that weighs three to four grams is attached into the interior of the shaft and allows the shaft flex to be tightened. The use of the insert to change the torsion or flex of the shaft can be placed anywhere along the shaft and will not insult the integrity of the shaft.

[0008] The golf industry has no standards for uniformity in identifying golf shafts and their properties. This process allows the golfer to alter the shaft to their desired flex without purchasing a new shaft that may not have the correct properties. This process can be done to any golf shaft.

[0009] We provide a method for altering a graphite golf club shaft by providing a graphite golf club shaft having a hollow interior with an interior wall surface, a butt end, and a flex zone sixteen inches from the butt end with a range one inch up and one inch down from the measured sixteen inch point. We place a section of steel tubing into the hollow interior of the shaft and against the interior wall surface in the flex zone.

[0010] We further provide a method for altering a graphite golf club shaft by providing a graphite golf club shaft having a hollow interior with an interior wall surface, a butt end, and a flex zone sixteen inches from the butt end with a range one inch up and one inch down from the measured sixteen inch point. We place a graphite section into the hollow interior of the shaft and against the interior wall surface in the flex zone.

[0011] We further provide a method for altering a graphite golf club shaft by providing a graphite golf club shaft having a hollow interior with an interior wall surface, a butt end, and a flex zone sixteen inches from the butt end with a range one inch up and one inch down from the measured sixteen inch point. We cut the graphite golf club shaft at each end of the flex zone to remove the graphite flex zone of the graphite shaft and insert and secure a section of steel tubing at ends of the cut graphite shaft thereby replacing the graphite shaft flex zone with a steel tubing flex zone on the graphite shaft.

[0012] We cut the shaft and separate it into a Part A and a Part B at the flex zone. We fit a section of steel tubing between Part A and Part B into Part A hollow interior approximately 1.5 inches and into Part B hollow interior approximately 1.5 inches. The section of steel tubing is tapered at the ends to match an exterior formed by the interior wall surface. The section of steel tubing is then bonded to Part A and Part B with a high impact epoxy. The bonding includes sanding a chrome finish off of the section of steel tubing and dimpling the section of steel tubing.

[0013] Definitions

[0014] “a graphite golf club shaft” means a long and usually cylindrical bar especially if rotating and transmitting motive power made of a carbon composite called graphite.

[0015] “hollow interior” means space surrounded by an interior wall.

[0016] “an interior wall surface” means the interior perimeter of the hollow golf club shaft.

[0017] “butt end” means the end of the club which is usually the thickest in diameter.

[0018] “flex zone” means a two-inch range at the sixteen inch measurement point from the butt end of the club. This two-inch range measures 15 inches to 17 inches from the butt end of the club. This is one inch either side of the 16 inch flex point.

[0019] “section of steel tubing” means a long and usually cylindrical bar made of steel is cut into sections to fit into the graphite golf club shaft flex zone.

[0020] “graphite section” means a long and cylindrical graphite bar is cut to fit inside the parent graphite shaft at the flex zone.

[0021] “high impact epoxy” means the type of epoxy used to connect the parent graphite golf club shaft to the section of steel tubing so that the connection will not come apart during the completion of the golf swing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022]FIG. 1 is an isometric drawing of a shaft showing a flex zone;

[0023]FIG. 2 is an isometric drawing of a shaft showing Part A and Part B of the shaft with a section of steel tubing before it is inserted;

[0024]FIG. 3 is an isometric drawing of a shaft showing Part A and Part B of the shaft with a section of steel tubing inserted; and

[0025]FIG. 4 is a side elevation view in section of a graphite shaft with a graphite section inserted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] Preferred embodiment of the invention will be described as a procedure with reference to the figures.

[0027]FIG. 1 shows the graphite golf club shaft 1 with a hollow interior 2 that shows the interior wall surface 3 with a measurement of the flex zone 5 sixteen inches from the butt end 4 of the graphite golf club shaft 1 plus or minus one inch from the flex point.

[0028]FIG. 2 shows Part A and Part B of the graphite golf club shaft 1 with a hollow interior 2, an interior wall surface 3, a cutting point sixteen inches from the butt end 4 of the shaft that represents the flex zone 5 and the correct placement of the section of steel tubing 6 in the flex zone 5.

[0029]FIG. 3 shows Part A and Part B of a graphite golf club shaft 1 with a hollow interior 2, an interior wall surface 3 that the section of steel tubing 6 is attached to with high impact epoxy 8 to connect Part A and Part B to make the graphite golf club shaft 1 one solid unit. The section of steel tubing 6 replaces the piece of graphite golf club shaft 1 that was removed from the flex zone 5 and stabilizes the flex characteristics of the graphite golf club shaft 1 in the flex zone 5. The graphite golf club shaft 1 is then trimmed from the butt end 4, at the tip end or both to arrive at the desired length and flex of the graphite golf club shaft 1.

[0030]FIG. 4 shows a graphite golf club shaft 1 with a hollow interior 2, an interior wall surface 3 that a graphite section 7 or a section of steel tubing 6 is attached to the interior wall surface 3 with high impact epoxy 8 to stabilize the flex zone 5 measured sixteen inches plus or minus one inch from the butt end 4.

[0031] Various changes could be made in the above construction and method without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims below. It is intended that all matter contained in the above description as shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not as a limitation. 

We claim:
 1. A method for altering a graphite golf club shaft comprising: (a) providing a graphite golf club shaft having a hollow interior with an interior wall surface, a butt end, and a flex zone sixteen inches from the butt end with a range one inch up and one inch down from the measured sixteen inch point; and (b) placing a section of steel tubing into the hollow interior of the shaft and against the interior wall surface in the flex zone.
 2. A method for altering a graphite golf club shaft comprising: (a) providing a graphite golf club shaft having a hollow interior with an interior wall surface, a butt end, and a flex zone sixteen inches from the butt end with a range one inch up and one inch down from the measured sixteen inch point; and (b) placing a graphite section into the hollow interior of the shaft and against the interior wall surface in the flex zone.
 3. A method for altering a graphite golf club shaft comprising: (a) providing a graphite golf club shaft having a hollow interior with an interior wall surface, a butt end, and a flex zone sixteen inches from the butt with a range one inch up and one inch down from the measured sixteen inch point; and (b) cutting the graphite golf club shaft at each end of the flex zone to remove the graphite flex zone of the graphite shaft and inserting and securing a section of steel tubing at ends of the cut graphite shaft thereby replacing the graphite shaft flex zone with a steel tubing flex zone on the graphite shaft.
 4. A method for altering a graphite golf club shaft comprising: (a) providing a graphite golf club shaft having a hollow interior with an interior wall surface, a butt end, and a flex zone sixteen inches from the butt end with a range one inch up and one inch down from the measured sixteen inch point; (b) separating the shaft into a Part A and a Part B at the flex zone; and (c) fitting a section of steel tubing between Part A and Part B and into Part A hollow interior approximately 1.5 inches and into Part B hollow interior approximately 1.5 inches.
 5. The method for altering a graphite golf club shaft as recited in claim 4 in which ends of the section of steel tubing are each tapered to match an interior formed by the interior wall surface.
 6. The method for altering a graphite golf club shaft as recited in claim 4 including bonding the section of steel tubing to Part A and Part B with a high impact epoxy.
 7. The method for altering a graphite golf club shaft as recited in claim 6 wherein the bonding includes sanding a chrome finish off of the section of steel tubing and dimpling the section of steel tubing. 